Societies & Empires in Societies & Empires in West AfricaWest Africa

Map of West Africa, c. 1575 (Venetian – Girolamo Ruscelli)Map of West Africa, c. 1575 (Venetian – Girolamo Ruscelli)

Ghana EmpireGhana Empire (750-1076) (750-1076)• Introduction of camel

allowed trans Sahara trade

• Gold-Salt Trade– Gold from south of

Sahara / Niger River (no salt)

– Salt abundant in Sahara– Merchants met in cities

for transactions– Control of trade routes

meant wealth, power!• Ghana grew from taxing

the merchants

Ghana EmpireGhana Empire• Height of Ghana Empire

– King owned all gold and controlled supply to keep value high

– Had officials observe trade, business to maintain fairness

– Powerful army kept trade routes safe

• Around 1000, Ghanese leaders convert to Islam

• By 1076 Berbers from West Sahara conquer Ghana

Ghana Empire

Muslim States in North AfricaMuslim States in North Africa• By 670, Muslims ruled

Maghrib

• Almoravid Dynasty started around 1000– Almoravids were a family of

Berbers from West Sahara– Conquered Ghana in 1076– Conquered Spain – called

Moors (remember Othello?)

Extent of Almoravid Dynasty

Empire of Mali (1235-1400)Empire of Mali (1235-1400)• Miners found gold further

east, resulting in shifting trade routes

• Shift of power to state of Mali• King Sundiata

– Used military strengthto conquer trade cities, creating empire

– Delegated authority by putting good people in charge of trade, defense

– Promoted agriculture and trade

– Died 1255; next rulers convert to Islam

Empire of MaliEmpire of Mali• King Mansa Musa (grand-

nephew of Sundiata)– Skilled military leader who

doubled size of Empire (incl. Timbuktu)

– Divided empire into provinces with appointed governors

– Large, powerful armies kept peace, safe trade

– Built many mosques, to spread Islamic faith

– Hajj story– Later leaders not as

strong, and empire declined

Mansa Musa, (holding gold nugget)

Mansa, in Cairo

Empires of Songhai (1400-1591)Empires of Songhai (1400-1591)• New gold discoveries

further east again shift trade routes

• Songhai, near Niger River, controls new routes

• King Sunni Ali– Strong military, with navy

and cavalry, conquer large area

– Created peace, prosperity– Timbuktu became major

trade, cultural center– Dies 1492 – revolt against

sonSonghai Empire, one of the largest African

empires in history (more land than all of Western Europe!)

Empire of SonghaiEmpire of Songhai• Replaced with King Askia

Muhammad (1493-1528)– Set up efficient bureaucracy,

trade & tax system– Fervent Muslims– Built stronger military and

agricultural system– Defeated 1591 by Moroccans

using gunpowder weapons– Moroccans divided Songhai

into many small kingdoms

Mosque of Timbuktu

Ended 1000 years of empires in West Africa

Askia Muhammad